Art of packaging fruit and the like



Oct. 22, 1929. 5 FERGUSON 1,732,264

ART OF PACKAGING FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l vwwntoz G. K. S. FERGUSON ART OF PACKAGING FRUIT AND THE LIKE 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE K. 8. I'DGUSON, OI ROBIH EAST, PENNSYLVANIA AB! PACKAGING FRUIT AND THE ma This invention relates to im rovements in the art of packaging fruit an the like.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to ack receptacles containing perishable more andise, such as fruit, in wooden crates having such construction that when the crates are packed side by side, air may enter between them and pass into the crates between the slats forming the sides of the same. Some attempts have also been made to use paper or straw board in the construction of the primary or main container, but these have been specially constructed and have 'not been such as to insure adequate ventilation at all times during transit or when stored.

An object of my invention is to utilize paper or straw board cartons having straight or flat walls so that said cartons may be packed or stored in close formation and thus go caused to occupy the smallest possible space, and so that at the same time, the cartons shall have ventilating openings so located and of such size that adequate ventilation of a number of cartons arranged side by side and in superimposed relation will be provided, and

so that comparatively slight relative movement of the cartons will not operate to close ventilating holes of abutting cartons.

With this and other objects in view, the an invention consists in certain novel features as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the packages;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Figure? is a transverse sectional view; Figure 4 is a view showing a plurality ofprimary containers in horizontal section on a line corresponding with the line 4-4 of Figure 2 but with the baskets or secondary containers removed, and

Figure 5 is a view of a plurality of containers disposed in vertical series, the .containers being shown in section as indicated by the line 55 of Figure 3, but with the baskets or secondary containers and the horizontal partitions removed.

The pack or package, comprises a rima carton container 1 and a plurality o secon ary containers 2 located within the rimary container for fruit and the like. In igures 1 to 3 of the drawing, the secondary or fruit containers 2 are shown as consist of'baskets having bails or handles 3 whic may be so formed that the bails or handles of adjacent baskets may overlap when arranged within the carton or container as illustrated in Fi re 3. The baskets are shown arrange in tiers, one above another, the upper tier of baskets being supported upon a horizontal platform or partition 4 supported upon the bails or handles of the lower series of baskets, and said latform or partition is sufliciently smaller t an the internal dimensions of the carton as not to interfere with the circulation of air through the carton and the fruit contained in the baskets 2.

The carton 1 is made of pa er or straw board or the like and the partition 4 may be made of the same material. The carton may be made in a single piece, as will be readily understood. Each vertical wall of the carton is provided centrally with an opening 5. Each central opening 5 is of considerable size and being centrally located, each opening extends both above and below the partition 4. By locating the opening 5 tentrall in the vertical walls of the carton and ma ing said opening of considerable size, the aligning of the openmgs in the vertical walls of one carton with similar openings in the vertical walls of cartons which may abut against the same at the sides and ends thereof, and free circulation of air horizontally throu bout the interior of a closely packed series 0 cartons, will be assured, as W111 be apparent upon ins ection of Figure 4 of the drawing, and

urthermore, one carton may become displaced a considerable extent laterally with respect to adjacent cartons without stopping such circulation.

The top and bottom of the carton 1, each comprises a pair of flaps 6, 6, and a pair of flaps 7, 7, the flaps lof one pair overlapping the flaps of the other pair and the pairs of to and bottom flaps are so proportioned that wlsen in closed position, portions of their inner edges will define the walls of openings 8, 9 of considerable size centrally located in the top and bottom of the carton, and these openings will facilitate the circulation of air vertically through superimposed cartons, as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 5. The 0 enings 8 and 9 being of considerable size a ignment of such openings in cartons assembled in vertical series, will e insured, and considerable lateral displacement of one carton relatively to other cartons of the vertical series may occur without closing the circulation of air vertically through the vertical series of .cartons.

My improvements insure adequate ventila- 61011 in two directions through closely packed cartons in which containers for fruit or the like are located; alignment of ventilating openings of the cartons will be insured even when they are more or less carelessly assembled or piled.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is

1. Means for packaging fruit and the like comprising a primary container consisting of a carton having flat sides, top and bottom each provided with a central ventilating opening of substantial area, secondary containers arranged in tiers, within said carton, a horizontal partition separating one tier of containers from the next higher tier, said partition having its edges spaced from the sides of the carton and passing medially across the openings therein, whereby cartons may be packed closely to each other both in side by side and superimposed relation and insure alignment of openings of one carton with openings in abutting cartons to efiect adequate ventilation for the contents of a mass of closely packed cartons, and bails spanning the secondary containers for supporting the partition and the top of the carton in vertically spaced relation to the respectively subjacent containers.

2. Means for packaging fruit and the like comprising a carton having central ventilating openings in each side, top and bottom, a plurality of containers arranged within the carton in vertical series of tiers, horizontal partitions between the tiers of containers, and upstanding bails on the several containers supporting the partitions and the top of the carton respectively in spaced relation to the respectively subjacent containers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

GEORGE K. S. FERGUSON. 

